Camps and Classes

Welcome to FONZ Summer Safari Day Camp! Each of the Summer Safari programs explores the lives, habitats, and conservation of animals around the world. Week-long sessions include exciting hands-on activities, lessons, craft projects, science experiments, and walks through the Zoo (but no direct contact with animals). Camp sessions are grouped into four grade levels: K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-7. Day camp is not offered at the pre-K level. Children should be registered for the grade level they will be entering in the fall, and they may only be registered within their correct age group. Summer Safari Day Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.

Dates: June 26 -Aug. 18

Times: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (campers must be dropped off between 8:45 a.m. and 9 a.m. in the Visitor Center auditorium)

You don't need a swimsuit to learn about the amazing aquatic world. Hold your breath as you meet the Smithsonian's National Zoo's wettest friends. From playful otters to armored alligators, learn about the many creatures that inhabit the world's waters.

Get to know your cousins from itsy-bitsy monkeys to awesome apes. Learn about the O Line and how it enables orangutans to travel high above the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Plus, there’s no denying you’ll adore our golden lion tamarins! Monkey around with us all week long.

It takes skill, strength, and smarts for animals to thrive, but they still need your help. Even some of the fastest racers and the most furious fighters are in danger of extinction. Discover what you can do to be a species survival champion!

Red Fish, ZOO Fish! Discover the animals that inspired your favorite Dr. Seuss characters. From there to here and here to there, animal fun is everywhere! (All campers MUST be entering kindergarten in fall 2017)

Grades: KMember Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Doc McStuffins (Grade 1 only)

Doc McStuffins has her magic stethoscope, but what do real zoo vets use to help animals feel better? Find out if they have their own "Big Book of Boo Boos." Visit How Do You Zoo?, a one-of-a-kind role play exhibit to practice caring for animals. Please note: campers do not come in direct contact with live animals or assist with animal or veterinary care. (All campers MUST be entering first grade in fall 2017)

Grades: 1Member Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Paw Patrol (Grade K Only)

To the Lookout! Earn badges as you find animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo that can fly like Skye, call loudly like Chase, build like Rubble, and swim like Zuma. Grab your pup pack and join the force! (All campers MUST be entering kindergarten in fall 2017)

Grades: KMember Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Defenders of the Zooniverse

Just like the Defenders of the Universe, the Smithsonian's National Zoo animals have their own secret strategies to keep them safe from danger! Predators have nothing on the camouflage, quills, talons, and fangs!

Find the nearest phone booth and change into your cape; we’re meeting the Smithsonian's National Zoo’s most incredible creatures! Join the squad as we uncover animals with powers of speed, strength, flight, and more. Then transform into a hero yourself!

With a little imagination, centaurs, dragons, and unicorns can all be found at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Take a magical journey with the fantastic creatures from the world’s legends and myths and visit the real animals behind the mysteries.

Imagine what it takes to care for a toothy tiger or slimy salamander. How do you x-ray a stingray or give a shot to a shrew? Zoo veterinarians have one of the toughest jobs around. Visit How Do You Zoo?, a one-of-a-kind role play exhibit, and practice caring for animals. Please note: Campers do not come in direct contact with live animals or assist with animal or veterinary care.

Calling all future conservationists! The futures of some species are in danger because of threats from our fellow humans. Discover species that are targeted for their valuable skin, fur, and horns, and become part of the worldwide network of supporters who are fighting to save them. You can make a difference!

Suit UP for an adventure as a Zoo Wilderness Explorer. Earn badges as you help animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and around the world. You may even discover the creature of Paradise Falls. Adventure is out there!

Hola amigos! Pull out your maps and grab your backpacks for a summer adventure with Dora, Diego, and their animal friends! The map of Smithsonian's National Zoo will present us with a different challenge each day as we learn about animals, conservation, and the Spanish language.

There’s no need for a passport when you can explore the savanna at the Smithsonian's National Zoo! Take part in activities, experiments, and crafts as you learn about African animals and culture. We’re not lion, it’s going to be a wild time!

This land was made for you and me…and the animals! Explore the nature in your backyard and say “hello” to your neighbors on the American Trail including gray wolves, sea lions, and the iconic bald eagle. Then learn how you can help keep America beautiful!

Pack your bags, we’re travelling the world to visit our animal friends. From the meerkats of Africa to the arapaimas of Amazonia, learn how each species adapted to the place it calls home. No passports necessary for this camp!

Imagine what it takes to care for a toothy tiger or slimy salamander. How do you x-ray a stingray or give a shot to a shrew? Zoo veterinarians have one of the toughest jobs around. Visit How Do You Zoo?, a one-of-a-kind role play exhibit, and practice caring for animals. Please note: Campers do not come in direct contact with live animals or assist with animal or veterinary care.

Weird, freaky, and totally true! Animals have developed some strange strategies to survive. From third eyelids to sixth senses, animal adaptations are truly wild business. We know you’ll give this camp a pseudo-thumbs up!

Jump into the pages of your favorite “tails.” Huff and puff with the big bad wolf, visit the homes of three species of bears, and meet the Smithsonian's National Zoo’s billy goats gruff at the Kids' Farm. We'll bring these stories to life and learn about the real animals behind the critter characters.

Grab your creature power suit; we're going on a real zoo-venture! A new mission each day will help us learn about the animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo with real creature-powered technology. What if... you registered for this camp today?

A little bird told me that we'll have the lion's share of fun in this camp! Meet the animals that play a part in some popular English expressions. Even if it's raining cats and dogs, we're sure to get up to some fun monkey business this week!

A wonderful world unfolds in this five-day investigation of the animal kingdom. Each day you'll learn about a different type of animal and the wild place it inhabits. Be prepared for awesome facts about mammals, birds and reptiles; oh my! Let the wild rumpus start!

It’s survival of the fittest in this dog-eat-dog world. Investigate evolution and create your own theory on the future of a zoo species. Will your species survive? How can you help? Your name has been picked, register now, and “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Imagine what it takes to care for a toothy tiger or slimy salamander. How do you x-ray a stingray or give a shot to a shrew? Zoo veterinarians have one of the toughest jobs around. Visit How Do You Zoo?, a one-of-a-kind role play exhibit, and practice caring for animals. Please note: Campers do not come in direct contact with live animals or assist with animal or veterinary care.

There is really no such thing as a wimpy animal! It takes skill, savvy, and even a little trickery to survive in the wild, especially when you’re not at the top of the food chain. Crack open your field journal, you’ll want to put this camp on the record!

Pack up your trunk and follow the herd to learn about the largest living land mammals—elephants! Study their fascinating adaptations and get to know the gentle giants that call the Elephant Community Center home.

Calling all man cubs! Join the pack and have a wild time exploring animals that live deep in the jungle! The bears, tigers, apes, and snakes are waiting to teach you the bear necessities of life. It will be a swingin’ good time.

Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? A wonderful week at Smithsonian's National Zoo camp! Learn about hungry caterpillars, mixed-up chameleons, and many more Eric Carle favorites during a week of art, science and exploration. Take a bite out of this camp today!

Grab your honey pot for a "Grand Adventure" in the Zoo's own Hundred Acre Wood! Discover the Pooh Bears, Piglets, Tiggers, and Owls that call the Smithsonian's National Zoo home. You may even spot some Heffalumps and Woozles along the way!

From the very small to the very tall, many marvelous mammals call the Smithsonian's National Zoo home. Find out why it's so fantastic to be furry, so wonderful to be warm-blooded, and so much fun to be in Zoo Camp!

There is more than meets the eye with some of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's most “convertible” creatures. From the life cycles of frogs, to the color-changing abilities of chameleons, to the self-defense mechanisms of small mammals, transformations are happening everywhere at the Zoo. Roll out into the Zoo to see if you can spot the disguises and changes happening all around!

From sea lions and otters to arapaimas and amphibians, dive into the watery worlds of the Smithsonian National Zoo’s bubbliest animals.The incredible Washed Ashore sculptures, on temporary exhibit throughout the Zoo this summer, will introduce us to some of the “current” threats to these fragile ecosystems and show us what we can do to help!

Act like an animal this week as we explore the five senses and how they help species to survive. Use your senses, test your skills, and see how you compare to some of the wildest animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. It doesn’t take eagle eyes to see that this is a sense-ational camp!

Looking for a camp with cattitude? Hunt with lions, pounce with tigers, race with cheetahs, and leap into fun with clouded leopards. Meet all of the Smithsonian National Zoo’s favorite felines and learn what you can do to protect them. We’re paw-sitive you’ll agree: this camp is purr-fect!

Beat the heat with the cold-blooded creatures of the Reptile Discovery Center! These fascinating animals are sure to pull you out of your shell as we “croc” open the hidden worlds of reptiles and amphibians. Jump to it; you’ll be hoppy in this class!

Endangered species need your help! We'll learn about the endangered animals from Eric Carle's classic rhyming book, as well as other favorite Carle critters, as we explore what we can do to help them. No grouchy ladybugs here; we'll have a great time!

Come and meet a group of zoo animals that are experts at hide and seek. Spots, stripes, and colors help some animals find dinner and keep others from being on the menu. Learn how animals hide from predators and search for prey. (All campers MUST be entering first grade in fall 2017)

Grades: 1Member Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Zooper Troopers (Grade 1 Only)

One of a kind? Part of a pack? Some animals live in groups while others prefer to go it alone. Study the living arrangements of a flock of flamingos to the solitary sloth. The more the merrier! (All campers MUST be entering Grade 1 in fall 2017)

Grades: 1Member Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Trunks to Tails (Grade K Only)

What could you do with ears 3 feet wide or a tail that can wrap around branches? From the tops of their heads to the tips of their toes, animals are pretty amazing! Learn about the extraordinary features that animals use to survive, then create your own awesome adaptation! (All campers MUST be entering kindergarten in fall 2017)

Grades: KMember Cost: $400.00Non-member cost: $500.00Status: Closed

Zoo Vets: The Next Generation (Formerly Dr. Zoo-little: Zoo MD)

Imagine what it takes to care for a toothy tiger or slimy salamander. How do you x-ray a stingray or give a shot to a shrew? Zoo veterinarians have one of the toughest jobs around. Visit How Do You Zoo?, a one-of-a-kind role play exhibit and practice caring for the Zoo's animals Please note: Campers do not come in direct contact with live animals nor do they assist with animal or veterinary care.

Cuddly cubs and snuggly kittens…who needs them?! Explore the underbelly of animal life and visit the Smithsonian National Zoo’s wolves, skunks, snakes, and crocodiles. We’ll also uncover some of the creepy crawlies that dwell in your own backyard!

No bones about it, scientists can learn a lot about animals from their skeletons. Dig into the world of vertebrates and search for clues that come from teeth, toes, tails, and more. This camp is bad to the bone!

There’s no place like home! Visit the Smithsonian's National Zoo and explore the homes and habitats of nature's natural builders. Dig into the animal world before becoming an animal architect yourself. Join the crew!

Grab your creature power suit, you're going on a real zoo-venture! A new mission each day will help you learn about the animals at the Smithsonian's National Zoo that have real creature-powered technology. What if...you registered for this camp today?

Are you as curious as George? Then this is the camp for you! Put on your yellow hat and learn about all of the curious little lemurs, monkeys, and apes at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. We'll explore the special features that help these primates make mischief and learn what makes us humans a lot like George!

The Zootopia Police Department is looking for 16 new recruits to explore the “metropolis” of the Zoo. We’ll patrol The Meadowlands, The Canal District, Savanna Central, the Rainforest District, and more as we investigate which animals at the Zoo could call the neighborhoods of Zootopia home sweet home.

You’ve heard that bats are blind, that you can get warts from toads, and that an elephant never forgets. But can these be true? Get ready to investigate and help debunk a new animal myth each day. If you’ve heard that science is boring, guess what? Myth BUSTED!

Help kick extinction! Become a part of the Furious Five and earn a black belt in conservation. Travel Asia Trail and uncover the mystery of the giant panda, clouded leopard, red panda, and more. This camp is sure to be a knockout!

Welcome to the Care of Magical Creatures: Zoo Edition! Pull out your magical case and see if you have the magic spell to uncover the Zoo’s own versions of a baselisk, demiguise, graphorn, niffler, nundu, and thestral!

It’s time for the mane event! We’re beaming with pride over our lions! Learn about the kings and queens of the Smithsonian's National Zoo and visit with their cat cousins: cheetahs, tigers and leopards. Pounce on this camp and register meow!

Camp Policies and Information

Cancellation requests received at least four weeks prior to the start of the session will receive a 75-percent refund. Transfer requests received at least four weeks prior to the start of the session will be charged a 10-percent administrative fee. Please email the FONZ Safari Day Camp Office with cancellation and transfer requests. No refunds or changes will be made for less than four weeks' notice.

Minimum Age Requirement

Following DC kindergarten eligibility law, children must turn five (5) years of age on or before September 30th to be eligible for our K-1 programs. There are no pre-K Summer Safari sessions. Children should be registered for the grade level they will be entering in the fall, and they may be registered only within their correct age group.

Minimum Camp Size

FONZ reserves the right to cancel a program no less than two days before the class begins if registration is under five participants. In this event, you will be notified by phone or e-mail and offered credit for another program, a full refund, or the option to donate your program fee to FONZ.

Locations

Drop-off for all camps is in the Visitor Center auditorium. After gathering with their teacher and classmates, campers will go to their classroom at one of several locations in the park. Campers in After-Camp Care must be picked up in Visitor Center classrooms. You must show photo identification when picking up your camper at dismissal or in After-Camp Care.

Registration

All participants must have an online account in the Friends of National Zoo’s registration system. This system enables you to register multiple children at once, view your account online, and make payments. You will need your FONZ member ID, or temporary ID, and the 2017 discount code to receive member rates.

American Camp Association policy updates require that we collect the following information at the time of registration. Please have this information available at the time of registration.

your family’s medical insurance carrier name and policy number

the date of your child’s last tetanus shot

If you have questions about these updates, please email the FONZ Safari Day Camp Office.

Animal Contact

For the safety of your child and the Zoo's animals, there is no contact with live animals or behind-the-scenes access provided in these classes.